Gary officials moved a long-discussed Lake County Convention Center closer to reality, approving a key step that allows the city to begin negotiating costs for the project planned next to the Hard Rock Casino.
At its March 24 meeting, the Gary Common Council approved a resolution allowing the city to begin working with a selected development team, shifting the project from concept to a phase where officials will begin setting timelines, and design details.
Nearly a year ago, the project arrived with a surge of optimism. In May 2025, Lake County officials selected Gary as the site for the roughly $100 million, 145,000-square-foot convention center, a decision that sparked celebration across the city and was widely framed as a turning point in its economic trajectory. Residents and officials said they expect the center to draw visitors, attract investment, and signal a broader resurgence tied to Gary’s partnership with Hard Rock Casino.
“Now’s the time for Gary,” longtime resident Robert Buggs said immediately after the announcement.
The council’s vote on Resolution CPR 2026-01 authorizes the city to move forward with AECOM Hunt and Powers & Sons. The companies were selected through a request for qualifications process. Though the group was the only bidder, it received a near-perfect score of 99 out of 100 from a technical review committee.
With that approval, city officials can now begin working with the team to determine costs and set a price cap for the project.
“What was presented to the Lake County Commissioners are concepts,” said Corrie Sharp, the city’s zoning director. “And now we’re going to work to design the details in order to achieve those concepts.”
The project will follow a design-build model, a departure from traditional construction methods that separate design and construction into different phases. Instead, the city, architects, and builders will collaborate throughout the process, working simultaneously on design decisions and construction feasibility. Officials say the approach is intended to reduce costly redesigns and change orders by identifying potential issues earlier before they are built into the project.
During the discussion, Councilmember Lori Latham sought clarification on who would be involved in the convention center’s design.
“Who is representing the city and also is there any room for a member of the council to be a part of the design team?” Latham asked.
Sharp said the project design decisions will be handled by committees involving the Northwest Indiana Redevelopment Authority, Hard Rock Casino, and Sharp, with possible council involvement.
Financing for the convention center is expected to come through bonds issued by the Indiana Finance Authority, with the redevelopment authority playing a central role in structuring and overseeing the deal. While the city will retain ownership of the facility, operations will be handled through a partnership with Hard Rock Casino.
House Bill 1347 was introduced in the state legislature earlier this year that would have made significant adjustments to how wagering tax revenues from Gary riverboats are distributed among local entities and state funds. It did not pass, however.
“We’re not looking to transfer ownership to a private entity to operate,” Sharp said. “We have a partnership with Hard Rock Casino in order to operate this facility.”
Sharp said the arrangement allows the city to maintain control of the asset while leveraging Hard Rock’s experience in managing large-scale entertainment venues.
Hard Rock representatives will also participate in a series of committees overseeing the project, alongside the redevelopment authority and the city’s owner’s representative — a structure meant to align decisions around design, operations, and long-term use.
The project is now entering a phase where conceptual plans will be translated into detailed designs, with negotiations shaping everything from materials to cost. The council’s Ways and Means Committee meeting scheduled for April 14 could bring additional discussion on infrastructure and financing tied to the development.
City officials have not publicly outlined a timeline for completion.
Beyond the convention center, council members also advanced several infrastructure-related measures, voting unanimously to move grant-funded and appropriation ordinances to Ways and Means committee. Officials highlighted ongoing efforts to synchronize traffic signals and prioritize pothole repairs, part of a broader push to address long-standing infrastructure concerns.
The council also approved the appointment of Julian Carr to fill a vacant seat on the Gary Public Transportation Board.
Several items, including the convention center resolution, a problem-solving court grant ordinance, and infrastructure appropriations, were also moved to the Ways and Means committee for further review.
